Sightseeing

1. Tei hea te marae?

   Where is the marae (sacred site)?

   Usage

   Ask for directions to a marae — an ancient Tahitian ceremonial site

   Grammar Note

   marae is a sacred stone platform found throughout Polynesia

2. E hia te ho'o no te tīteti?

   How much is the ticket?

   Usage

   Ask about the ticket price for a tourist attraction or activity

   Grammar Note

   ho'o is "price / to barter, buy or sell"; utu means "lip / requital" and cannot mean price

3. E ti'a 'ānei ia'u ia rave i te hoho'a?

   Is it okay if I take photos?

   Usage

   Ask permission to photograph at a cultural or religious site

   Grammar Note

   "Photo" is hoho'a ("an effigy, figure, likeness").

4. E hia te hora no te pahi?

   How long does the ferry take?

   Usage

   Ask how long the ferry to Bora Bora or Moorea takes

   Grammar Note

   'Ē'a is not an interrogative but "path"; quantities take E hia? hōroa is not the form; horo'a means "to give". A ship or ferry is pahi ("a ship, boat"). taime is an English loan, so hora is used

5. E mea nehenehe roa teie fenua!

   This island is very beautiful!

   Usage

   Express admiration for the beauty of a Polynesian island

   Grammar Note

   He … is the Hawaiian/Māori article and does not exist in Tahitian (indefinite e, definite te). nani is likewise Hawaiian; Tahitian for "beautiful" is nehenehe. fenua is "land, country; the earth"

6. Tei hea te Fare Manaha?

   Where is the museum?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of a museum or art gallery

   Grammar Note

   fare hoho'a means "house of pictures", not a museum. The Musée de Tahiti et des Îles is called Te Fare Manaha in Tahitian; manaha is "house sacred to Oro", i.e. a house holding treasures. No other common noun for "museum" exists

7. Eaha te i'oa o teie?

   What is the name of this?

   Usage

   Ask the name of a place, landmark, or item while sightseeing

   Grammar Note

   'O vai? means "who?" and applies to people only. The name of a thing is asked with Eaha ("Eaha or aha? What?"). "Name" is i'oa, with the glottal stop

8. Eaha te aura'a o teie marae?

   What is the meaning of this marae?

   Usage

   Ask about the significance of a marae — Tahiti's traditional sacred site

   Grammar Note

   He … is the Hawaiian/Māori article and does not exist in Tahitian (indefinite e, definite te). nani is likewise Hawaiian; Tahitian for "beautiful" is nehenehe. "Meaning" is aura'a; mana'o is "thought, opinion"

9. E hia te ho'o o te tīteti?

   What is the price of the ticket?

   Usage

   Ask about the ticket price at a tourist attraction

   Grammar Note

   He … is the Hawaiian/Māori article and does not exist in Tahitian (indefinite e, definite te). nani is likewise Hawaiian; Tahitian for "beautiful" is nehenehe. horo'a means "to give", not "price"; the price is ho'o

10. Māuruuru i tō 'outou aroha.

    Thank you for your warm welcome.

    Usage

    Thank a local guide or host for their warm reception

    Grammar Note

    'inoora'a is built on 'ino "bad, evil, wicked" and cannot express hospitality. Warmth and kindness are aroha, used as in "E māuruuru vau ia 'oe i tō'oe aroha"

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